COMMERCIAL.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXVI, Issue 10103, 22 March 1909, Page 1

COMMERCIAL.

.HOME MARKETS. [Br Electric Telegraph—Copyhioiit.] (Per Press Association.) Received March 22, at 8.25 a.m. London, March 21. Wheat —Au Australian cargo sold at 39s 9d, 14,C00 quarters February-March shipment at 40s, a cargo and ECOO quarters of) March-April, shipment-at 40s 3d. Woil —There is remarkable animation amongst Yorkshire buyers for good merinos and prices show a hardening tendency. Crossbreds are very tirm at_ the highest late rates. To date 139,460 bales have been offered and 134,960 sold, including "Tawapaita" 7|d, "Opu" BJd. "Awahea" BSd. -Xiti" ICid, -'W.D." llgd. "Linseed oil, £23. Rabbits—The. arrival of three cargoes has .eased the market. Large Xi'.v South Wales sorts arc retailing at 18s 6d to 19s, Victorians 17s to 18s. Sheep—Canterbury heavy 3d, Southland none offering, North Island 213-16 d, best brands 3d, other sorts unchanged. Lambs—Canterbury light 4 15-16 d, medium 43d, heavy 43d. Southland unquoted, North Island 4 7-16 d. Australian sheep, lambs, and beef prices unchanged. River Plate sheep .and lambs unchanged. Beef: Fores 2|d, hinds unchanged. Hemp is slow of sale: April-June shipment £22 15s. Copper—Spot, £55 6s 3d; three months. £56 2s 6d. Kleotrolvlic. £56 12s 6d. Tin—Spot. £129: three months. £loo 10s. Lead. £l3 9s 9d. Silver, 25 5-16 d. .Antimony, £7 ICs. Copra—Steadier: South Sea, in bags, afloat, £l7 17s 6d. LOCAL MARKETS. Oamaru Mail Office, Monday Afternoon. The pendulum of the wheat market has swung 'back again to the maximum point attained about two weeks ago. the comparative dullness which obtained at our last tithe of writing having given way again to a firm tone everywhere. Australia's position is (plite a peculiar one. for, though she has a tremendous surplus, wheat is realising figures not touched for several seasons. This mainly because merchants who arranged to ship have been cattiiht short, and they are being squeezed in their efforts to find cargoes. They are paying so dear for their wheat that every i shipment entails considerable loss. _ This practically ticiitious value prevailing in Australia'has been the means of checking exports to New Zealand other than to supply orders. This fact has led many local growers to withdraw their samples in ex- | peetation of getting even money. But the chances of this are very remote, for I while wheat can be bought in North Canterbury at 5s 6£d to 3s"7c! there is little hoae of our market going much higher. At present wheat is being railed from Ashburton at a shade less than is being asked here. There can be no doubt that New Zealand has crown more wheat this year than she wilf herself be able to consume, and an outlet will be found necessary. With the London market at the present paritv and freights at 255. exports Home would realise cs 8d f.0.b., but so far growers have not required to consider the Home market. Presently, however, when millers have filled their immediate requirements, the exporting value will be the quotation to rule the market. There was considerable business during last weeK at 3s 9id to 3s lOicl at sidings, in some eases free of commission, and wheat at present is firm at these prices, though the volume of business tailed oil" towards the i;m\ of the week. Oats remain in about the same unsatisfactory position: there are not a great many "ottering, and the quality is not improving, all being more or less discolored. This is unfortunate as Southland's oats are reported to be prime. At present Canterbury and North Otago are securing the North" Island business, but it is almost' certain that Southland, with her immense supplies of better quality grain, will, when she has aot her crop threshed, monopolise the oat market entirely. Bailey is entirely neglected. Maltsters have filled requirements from Blenheim for the meantime, and are not prepared to do business. There is an occasional inquiry for milling quality, but at very low quotations. Owing to the heavy rains occasioning a shortage in supplies, the potato market rallied again towards the end of the week, but a relapse is certain as soon as the customary supply is resumed. Shipping prices at present are from £2 5s to £2 "7s 6d at handy sidings, nett. We quote, nett: — Wheat: Milling;, 3s 9-Jd to 3s 10s; whole fowl wheat, os 6d to 3s 7d; broken, 3s 3d to 3s 4el. Oats: Oartons. Is 2d to Is od ; Duns, Is 2d to Is 2J,d ; Danish, Is Id to Is 2d. Barlev: Malting (nominal), 3s; milling, 2s 3d to 2s 6d : feed, Is 9d. Potatoes, £2 5s to £2 7s 6d.

DUNEDIN HORSK SALES. Messrs Wright, Stephenson, and Co. re rjort as follows:—For Saturday's Gale there was only a email entry, composed, ■with one or two exceptions, of a rather inferior class of animals. The attendance of the public was only fair, due no doubt to no fresh consignments being advertised. Consequently business was limited. All classes of horses are wanted' in Dnnedin. at the present time, and any country consignments coming forward are eagerly competed for and realise full market value. Draughts fit for town carriers and contractors are very scarce; in fact, Dnnedin has not been so bare of such animals for a very long time, and'' we would recommend " vendors having such for sale to send them to our weekly auction. •Spring 1 carters and spring-vanners are also wjanted. Wo quote: . Superior young draught geldings, at from £45 to £SO; extra good do (prize-winners), at from £SO to £55; superior young draught mares, at from £SO to £6O; medium draught mares and geldings, at from' £3O to £4O; aged do, at from £ls to £2O; ! well-matched carriage pairs, at from £7O Ito £10T); strong, spring-van horses, at from £25 to 30; milk-cart and butchers' order-cart horses, at from £lB to £35; 1 lisht ■ hacks' .at. from£B to £l3; extra i f»6od hacks and. harness horses, at from I £l3 to 25; weedy and aged do, at - from \~5 to £7. . ,'.'■".